scar·i·fy 1 (sk r  -f  )tr.v. scar·i·fied, scar·i·fy·ing, scar·i·fies 1. a. To make shallow cuts in (the skin), as when vaccinating. b. To create a design on (the skin) by means of shallow cuts that are sometimes rubbed with a colorant or irritant to enhance the resulting scar tissue. 2. To break up the surface of (topsoil or pavement). 3. To distress deeply, as with severe criticism; lacerate. 4. Botany To slit or soften the outer coat of (seeds) in order to speed germination. [Middle English scarifien, from Old French scarifier, from Late Latin scar fic re, alteration of Latin scarfre, from Greek skarphsthai, to sketch, scratch, from skarphos, pencil, stylus; see skrbh- in Indo-European roots.]scar i·fi·cation (-f -kshn) n.scar i·fier n. |
| scar·i·fy 2 (skâr-f) tr.v. scar·i·fied, scar·i·fy·ing, scar·i·fies To scare. |
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